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SombreHippie

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  1. I just grabbed the mail and got my spring issue of Canadian Guider, the Girl Guides of Canada newsletter/magazine, and for some reason didn't fully catch the "Geocaching" title, as I'd just been skimming the forums... then I realized I wasn't reading a geocaching publication I checked to see if the article/magazine was available online and unfortunately it isn't. So, here we go: A 21st Century Treasure Hunt: Geo-Caching by Carey Kinder and Mae Lefrancois Want to spice up a hike? Go geo-caching. A fun new outdoor activity, geo-caching is 21st Century treasure hunting, using two high-tech tools: a handheld GPS monitor and the Internet. The Internet is easily accessible to most girls, whether at home, school, libraries, or community centres. Handheld GPS monitors are increasingly popular among outdoors enthusiasts, private pilots, surveyors, navigators, Guiders and Scouters. They run anywhere from $150 to more than $500, but geo-caching requires only the basic, less-expensive models. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a collection of satellites in orbit above Earth. Depending on local weather conditions and cloud cover, most spots in Canada have up to five or more GPS satelites in synchronous orbit overhead. However, trees, mountains and buildings may interfere with GPS signal reception and reduce the number of accessible satellites. These satellites communicate with ground stations and GPS monitors. A handheld GPS monitor, which is roughly the size of a large cellular telephone, has an internal antenna; some models have an external antenna as well. The satellites can track the position of a GPS antenna, even if it's moving. The position is pinpointed in latitude and longtitude coordinates on a global grid. Longtitude lines run pole to pole, indicating east-west location from a universal reference of zero degrees longtitude at Greenwich, England. Lines of latitude circle the globe north and south from a universal reference of zero degrees at the equator. For example, most of the Canada/US border runs along the 49th parallel, or 49 degrees north of the equator. Winnipeg, Manitoba (which is very close to the Canada/US border), sits at 49º 54' North by 97º `4' West. These "lat/long" coordinates are absolute locations on Earth. This system is used for global navigation by air, land or ocean. How to Geo-Cache In Geo-caching, one looks for hidden caches of "treasures" (trinkets, toys, dollar store items, Girl Guide crests, etc.) outdoors in places such as local parks, trails or wilderness areas. There are now Geocoins and Travel Bug dog tags that can be purchased for the caches. They are numbered and can be attached to a trinket. In this way, your Travel Bug (For example, Nova Scotia Traveller) or Geocoin (for example, #1236) can travel all over the world and you can track it from your computer. These traditional caches are hidden from the elements, animals, and casual observers in waterproof containers in bushes, under rocks, in crevices, and so on. The geo-cache's coordinates, terrain difficulty, a special clue or two, and a map are posted on the Internet at www.geocaching.com Each Cache has a log book, into which those finding it can enter their names. You can also choose to take a treasure and leave one of your own. Then, re-seal the container and put it back in the condition you found it in. When you return home, visit the Web site again, and write a short note to describe your find and post any pictures you may have taken. To log your finds, you must register with the Web site (it's free), where there are also forums to ask questions and talk about geo-caching with others who enjoy this activity. Going Geo-Caching Armed with the lat/long coordinates, a handheld GPS monitor and your usual hiking kit, you're ready to go geo-caching! The GPS monitor displays your current lat/long coordinates, updating them as you walk around. In this manner, the GPS monitor guides you and indicates your direction with an arrow. (However, you can be standing at the edge of a cliff with a bearing, so you still need a good old compass and orienteering skills to get there.) The GPS monitor also logs the path taken from the time you turn it on. After you have reached your cache, logged your find in the log book, and exchanged treasures, you still need to find your way back out of the bush. So, you simply save your track in the GPS monitor's memory and tell it to track back to the beginning. Your GPS points the way back along the exact route you came in, telling you when to turn left or right as you retrace your steps. Unfortunately, it also directs you right back through that bog you would rather not have crossed to get to the cache in the first place! (Just part of the fun!) Caches can also be virtual: you find a monument and log on the Internet, a clue, fact or picture to prove you actually found it. Or you can do a Webcam cache where a friend, who is at home with a computer captures a picture of you, which she can post in real time to the cache Web page. There are also multi-caches. You find the first cache, following the Internet posting. At this cache, you are given co-ordinates to another cache, and possibly a clue for the final cache. You may have to visit two or more caches to get the clues to the final location. Geo-Caching and Guiding Geo-caching combines hiking, orienteering, the thrill of treasure hunting, constructive use of the Internet, knowledge of global navigation, and the fun and friendship of a shared activity with new people. Caches can be hidden along trails you take for a day hike, in wilderness locations for overnight or camp excursions, or on easily accessible urban walking paths. Many of the places you go geo-caching may be locations in your own province that you did not know existed or have not visited. It's a great activity for promoting environmental awareness and stewardship, and a fun source of adventure for all Guiding members, from Sparks to Guiders. Want to get started? go to www.geocaching.com and enter your postal code to find the location of the caches closest to you by region and by lat/long coordinates. Geo-Caching and Us! The 1st Marine Shore Area Trex Unite in Nova Scotia has embarked on its third geo-cache hike. You can see our finds at www.geocaching.com Click on "Hide and Seek a Cache" and search by user name "1st marine Shore Trex." All of our logs and pictures are posted there. We subscribe to the geo-cache CITO (Cache In Trash Out) philosophy. We've made labels for film canisters into which we've stuffed a plastic grocery bag. We leave these as "enviro-trashers" in any caches we find. The label instructions encourage future geo-cachers to fill the bags with trash they find on the way out, refill the film canister with a fresh bag, and leave it in the next cache they find. We are also in the process of establishing a cache in Nova Scotia that we will maintain as a unit.
  2. Parking would be an issue to think about. The only place you should have to pay is Stanley Park, but finding parking for a large group, especially downtown and in the Point Grey/UBC area. It's hard enough to find space for 1 car let alone 10. I've also found that most of the smaller parks only have 2-3 parking spots, if any dedicated to them, and in the above areas, even residential parking is packed very tightly. There will definately be some delays just for parking and walking a few blocks to get back with the group. Since it's a cache machine, I'm fairly sure the puzzles and multis are out, unless people want to solve all the puzzles and get co-ords ahead of time, which is usually quite possible. I know a lot of the puzzle caches have awesome hiding spots to reward you for your hard work.
  3. That is indeed a hefty load. A lot, if not most of those probably have a good 10-15+ minute walk to the cache. Multiply that by 75 and the driving times between them, and the most I see getting done in a day is 20-25 unless you run all the way. However, I'd like to see an attempt made. It'd be fun!
  4. I counted 37 including kids in the parking lot!
  5. There's a starting point to an offset cache 208m from Puppy's front door, and another one about 400m in another direction. I've also ended up hiding a cache under 300m from Steelhead[bC] and SuperB's front door without knowing it. I'm seeing a trend where all the new caches in my neighborhood are put there by MrPeabody.
  6. *laughs* I think Puppy and I have got you covered on that one... Anyhow, Puppy has to work today, and I'm kinda sick... but that's not stopping me from considering coming I'll check out the weather later and see how I'm feeling. If anything, I may just come for the first cache and to place poor Huey the Travel Chopper in the graceful hands of somebody that is not me. YARRR
  7. He is. He's sitting next to me now I vow that for the next race I won't pick up a single TB. Ever. I have to be the most forgetful person on the face of the planet. Maybe I'll remember that next time. I'll get Huey back out there. I've been trying to all weekend with no luck actually getting out to a cache.
  8. I still am a girl guide Well, a Link member, technically. In fact, we're off to go camping with the Rovers for the weekend tomorrow afternoon A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  9. quote: OK. I'll agree that items that says 'worship the God of so and so or your face will fall off' should not be in a cache. See, if something said exactly that, I'd probably take it as a fun novelty item A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  10. I've got Huey the Chopper, whom I sadly haven't been able to drop off yet. If I can get to whatever cache the WCEs are dropping the Torch, it can hopefully hop a ride as well. A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  11. quote:Originally posted by RobertM:It looks like the eye of dead person rolled back in their head. Freaky!!! Just remember: It can always be worse!! A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  12. Are those co-ords for that tree or somewhere else? It all depends where you found them in relation to where the co-ords are for. It could be a marker or a clue for some sort of game, whether it be GeoCaching or not. If the co-ords are for somewhere other than the tree, it might be neat to check out if you're in the area A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  13. I'm not really that dangerous A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  14. Puppy and I had fun on Saturday clamouring around the woods in the pouring rain with TBA and MysteryWoman. 4 finds total, although I had to sit one out after getting myself into a bout of dehydration/heat exhaustion (which I need to stop doing!). Good times were had by all. A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  15. Maybe it's a clue to buried treasure! A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  16. It's a song :-p It seemed to fit A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  17. Dead inside. Dead inside. Every single one of us is dead inside. A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  18. Yellow Etrex = $199 CDN ... Or free since my nice mommy wommy bought it for me as a 6 month early birthday present. A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  19. I'd say it's more like steak and eggs. Sometimes tough, sometimes messy, but oh so good when done properly. A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  20. *laughs* Does it really deserve its own topic? :-p A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  21. Glad it's not just me! A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  22. SombreHippie

    Why?

    There are many words I could use to describe what once may have had some merit as a decent topic for debate. Such words include: -Petty -Repetitive -Childish What good is an argument if all sides have their ears covered and are screaming "LALALALALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" and resort to name-calling and childish threats? There doesn't seem to be an actual topic that is being debated or argued over here anymore. It's just one personal attack after another. Why are topics being closed? Why is it being asked to be taken into private? Because all you three seem to be doing is slinging shots at eachother over personal problems that may once have been rooted in an actual problem that concerned the rest of us. Now it's just you three battling it out over nothing, and it no longer involves anyone else, which means that nobody else needs to see it and they're all sick of seeing it. People I once had respect for are reducing themselves to schoolyard children. I think it's time we grew up a little, guys. :/ A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  23. I'd say as long as you have all the virtual verifications needed, or a pic of your GPS and the bridge, go for it and backdate it. A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
  24. Not cheating at all. We had our first couple of finds without a GPS. There's even another Vancouver area cacher that apparently has a GPS but can't figure out how to use it. He uses maps and paces things off A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."
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